The NCAA is investigating whether Johnny Manziel was paid for signing autographs in January, ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” is reporting.

The Heisman Trophy-winning Texas A&M quarterback agreed to sign hundreds of autographs on photos and sports memorabilia in exchange for a five-figure flat fee during his trip to Miami for the BCS National Championship Game, according to the report.

Three sources said Manziel signed photographs, footballs, mini football helmets and other items at the request of an autograph broker named Drew Tieman. Two sources, who are aware of the signing arrangement, told “Outside the Lines” that Tieman approached Manziel on Jan. 6 when he landed at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to attend the game between Alabama and Notre Dame the next day.
After that meeting, three sources said, Manziel, accompanied by his friend and personal assistant Nathan Fitch, visited Tieman’s residence and signed hundreds of items in the main room of the apartment despite the fact that there were many people in the room. Before Manziel left South Florida, after taking in the title game, he signed hundreds of autographs more, one source said.

NCAA assistant director of enforcement James Garland contacted Tieman and at least one person associated with the signings in June to ask about Manziel-autographed items that were on sale on eBay, according to the report.

Manziel could be ruled ineligible to play if the investigation finds that he violated NCAA Bylaw 12.5.2.1 — “accepting money for promoting or advertising the commercial sale of a product or service.”

The investigation continues a tumultuous offseason for “Johnny Football,” who has been under fire for his partying habits, which may have contributed to his early departure from the Manning Passing Academy in July.

I think he absolutely knew what he was doing. And he could do it because he didn't need the money.

He just gave the NCAA a giant FU.

He pretty much gave everyone else a giant FU too by, in essence, saying the rules don't apply to him.

It was a blatant disregard.

He's saying, "I'm so important that you (NCAA) can't afford to make me play by the rules. I bring in too much $$$."

T A&M has a lot of pull in this situation as well. They are a wealthy school. They have a $7B endowment. An endowment that size is funded by people who are used to getting their own way. And those people want to see Johnny Football on Saturdays.

I think he is a self-entitled prick, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

It might wind up opening the doors (or cash register drawers) for a lot of other players in the NCAA.

I think he absolutely knew what he was doing. And he could do it because he didn't need the money.

He just gave the NCAA a giant FU.

He pretty much gave everyone else a giant FU too by, in essence, saying the rules don't apply to him.

It was a blatant disregard.

He's saying, "I'm so important that you (NCAA) can't afford to make me play by the rules. I bring in too much $$$."

T A&M has a lot of pull in this situation as well. They are a wealthy school. They have a $7B endowment. An endowment that size is funded by people who are used to getting their own way. And those people want to see Johnny Football on Saturdays.

I think he is a self-entitled prick, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

It might wind up opening the doors (or cash register drawers) for a lot of other players in the NCAA.

^ This. I think this will add more fuel to the ongoing lawsuit between former players and the NCAA and I could see the rules changing because of it all. To suspend him outright could be bad for the NCAA.

the more and more I think about the NCAA as I get older, the more and more I think it's a total scam.

I feel sorry, to an extent, for the high profile players who get exploited. I know that most are getting a free education and that's a fair trade-off; and the very high profile athletes are most likely going to have a chance at the pros.....but just the principle of the matter makes me sick.

I honestly (no sarcasm here) am not sure why the NCAA exists.

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I think he absolutely knew what he was doing. And he could do it because he didn't need the money.

He just gave the NCAA a giant FU.

He pretty much gave everyone else a giant FU too by, in essence, saying the rules don't apply to him.

It was a blatant disregard.

He's saying, "I'm so important that you (NCAA) can't afford to make me play by the rules. I bring in too much $$$."

T A&M has a lot of pull in this situation as well. They are a wealthy school. They have a $7B endowment. An endowment that size is funded by people who are used to getting their own way. And those people want to see Johnny Football on Saturdays.

I think he is a self-entitled prick, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

It might wind up opening the doors (or cash register drawers) for a lot of other players in the NCAA.

Given the precedence the ncaa set with usc and osu, they have to consider sanctions for Texas a and m. Until they fix is ridiculous rule, they have to stop being so damn inconsistent in its enforcement.

Given the precedence the ncaa set with usc and osu, they have to consider sanctions for Texas a and m. Until they fix is ridiculous rule, they have to stop being so damn inconsistent in its enforcement.

Where's the cover-up here? I don't see how Texas A&M is at any fault under this investigation.

Where's the cover-up here? I don't see how Texas A&M is at any fault under this investigation.

OSU didn't cover up anything. The coach did. If the entire program is going to get busted for a coach's or players actions, then a and m falls in that category too.

Manziel had likely done his for a while. If the coaches knew about it and played him anyway and/or chose not to report it, then this is just as bad as osu. Again, I think it's a terrible rule especially since the coach can leave then make a multi million dollar deal in the Nfl. But the ncaa has to be consistent and they simply haven't been.

But it doesn't change the fact that Oregon was by far the worst violation and they got off the easiest.

Long story short, the ncaa is laying the hammer down to schools that fight back and don't follow their ridiculous set of compliance guidelines. And they slap schools in the wrist for breaking actual rules. That's ****ed up.

And that's how Oregon got away with murder. They cheated, they actually Paid for the cheating (versus boosters), the e tire school knew they were cheating, and they reported nothing until they got caught. Once they got caught, they were perfect gentlemen about compliance.

Moral of the story is, break all the rules, don't report anything, but when you get caught, bend over and comply.

OSU didn't cover up anything. The coach did. If the entire program is going to get busted for a coach's or players actions, then a and m falls in that category too.

Manziel had likely done his for a while. If the coaches knew about it and played him anyway and/or chose not to report it, then this is just as bad as osu. Again, I think it's a terrible rule especially since the coach can leave then make a multi million dollar deal in the Nfl. But the ncaa has to be consistent and they simply haven't been.

But it doesn't change the fact that Oregon was by far the worst violation and they got off the easiest.